Title 14 — Crimes
77 chapters · 525 sections in this title.
14 V.I.C. § 1171 Libel defined
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A malicious publication, by writing, printing, picture, effigy, sign or otherwise than by mere speech, which exposes any living person, or the memory of any deceased person to hatred, contempt, ridicule or obloquy, or which causes or tends to cause any person to be shunned or avo…
14 V.I.C. § 1172 Punishment for libel
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Whoever willfully publishes or procures to be published any libel, or distributes or causes to be distributed any libelous matter in the form of leaflets, cards, or any other manner whatsoever, either printed or written, posting or causing them to be posted in any place, shall be…
14 V.I.C. § 1173 Malice presumed
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An injurious publication is presumed to have been malicious if no justifiable motive for making it is shown.
14 V.I.C. § 1174 Truth as a defense
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In all criminal prosecutions for libel, the truth may be given in evidence, and if it appears to the court that the matter charged as libelous is true, and was published with good motives and for justifiable ends, the party shall be acquitted.
14 V.I.C. § 1175 Publication defined
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To sustain a charge of publishing a libel, it is not necessary that the words or things complained of should have been read or seen by another. It is enough that the accused knowingly parted with the immediate custody of the libel, under circumstances which exposed it to be read …
14 V.I.C. § 1176 Liability of editors, proprietors and authors
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(a) Every editor or proprietor of a book, newspaper or serial publication and every manager of a partnership or incorporated association by which a book, newspaper or serial publication is issued, is chargeable with the publication of any matter contained in such book, newspaper …
14 V.I.C. § 1177 True reports of official proceedings as libel
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(a) A prosecution for libel cannot be maintained against any person for the publication of a fair and true report of any judicial, legislative or other public and official proceedings or for any heading of the report which is a fair and true headnote of the statement published. (…
14 V.I.C. § 1178 Privileged communications
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A communication made to a person interested in the communication, by one who was also interested or who stood in such relation to the former as to afford a reasonable ground for supposing his motive innocent, is not presumed to be malicious, and is a privileged communication.
14 V.I.C. § 1179 Threatening to publish libel
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(1) Whoever—(1) threatens another with the publication of a libel concerning him, or any parent, husband, wife, child or other member of his family; or(2) offers to prevent the publication of a libel upon another person upon condition of the payment of, or with intent to extort, …
14 V.I.C. § 1180 Slander defined
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(1) Slander is a—(1) false and malicious utterance made by word of mouth in a public manner against a person, whereby such person is charged with the commission of a deed punishable by law; or(2) a tale, or report maliciously made tending to injure the honor, reputation or worthi…
14 V.I.C. § 1181 Malice presumed
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Any slanderous statement made whether in the presence of the injured person or in his absence, is presumed to be malicious and shall constitute the crime of slander.
14 V.I.C. § 1182 Punishment for slander
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Whoever commits slander shall be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned not more than 180 days, or both.
14 V.I.C. § 1183 Reporting official statements as slander
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No oral, impartial and accurate account or exposition of judicial, legislative or of any other official act, nor of the statements made while in the discussion, argumentation and debating of said acts shall be considered slander.